Picker check for looms



June 13, 1944. c. D. BROWN PICKER CHECK FQR LOOMS 7 Filed Nov. 30, 1942 III!!! I IIIIIJ INVENTOR. CARL D. BROWN ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1944 PICKER CHECK FOR LooMs Carl D. Brown, Hopedale, Mass, assignor to Draper Corporation, 'Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of. Maine ApplicationiNovember 30, 1942; Serial No.-467,'330

9 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to picking mechanisms for fly shuttle looms and, as illustrated herein, relates more particularly to picker stick checking mechanism.

In high speed looms, the picker stick moves very rapidly during its picking movement and hence appreciable force is'required to check the picker stick at the end of such movement. The return movement of the picker stick is not so rapid but this return -movement must also be checked to impart a checking action to the shuttle as the latter returns to its initial position. Various picker stick checking devices have been proposed'and the type which is most generally satisfactory includes an endless strap embracing the picker stick and which is moved bodily by engagement with the picker stick when the latter approaches either end of its stroke. Friction devices 'are applied on each side of the path-of movement of the picker stick and engage the check strap. These friction devices are adjustable independently of each other and hence it is practically impossible to so adjust the devices that equal friction is applied to each run of the check strap. This is objectionable since the strap will slide more freely in one friction device than in the oth-er'which results not only'in excessive wear on'the strap but also causes undesirable deflection and twisting of'the picker stick.

'One object of "the present invention is to provide picker stick checking mechanism whereby the above mentioned difficulties will be overcome. To this end, the picker stick check is provided with means for *applying'equal friction to the check strap on each side of the path of 'movement of the picker which includes means arranged for'frictional engagement with the front and back runs of the check strap and a connecting member arranged to apply pressure to said friction means equally on the front and back runs 'of the check strap.

Withthe above and other objects and features in view, the invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawing'which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the left hand end portion of a loom embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly'in section taken along the line II-'II of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section taken along the line III--III of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is .a view'in cross section taken along the line IV-'-IV"of Fig. 1.

all

The loom to which the present invention is applied is of usual construction and there is shownin the drawing only that portion of a loom which is necessary to the understanding of the present invention.

Fig. l of the drawing shows a portion of the'le'ft hand end of a usual lay beam III which is arranged for reciprocation forwardly and rearwardly of the loom during operation thereof. The loom is also provided with the usual picker stick l2 which is moved inwardly and outwardly longitudinally of the lay by the usual picking mechanism. The usual metal lay end M is secured to the end of the lay by suitablefastenings.

The check strap 16, preferably formed of leather, shown in the drawing is bent to form 'a flattened loop and the overlapping ends are "secur-ed together by suitable bolts and nuts. An endless check strap could, of course, be used if so desired but it is preferred, however, to use the type shown since it is less expensive than the endless type. Thecheck strap I6 is supported directly beneath the laybeam l0 between suitable friction members which include front and rear supporting members I 8, 20 and which are fixed to the lay beam by bolts 22, 24 respectively. Each of these supporting members is substantially identical and, hence, it will be necessary to describe only one in detail.

The supporting member 18 is formed in one piece and. as best shown in Fig. 4, comprises a substantially vertical portion 26 and a substantially horizontal portion 28 which engage the front and bottom, respectively, of the lay beam Hi. The horizontal portion 28 is provided with slots 30 which receive the bolts'22. The horizontal portion 28 is provided with a depending projection 32 constituting a friction member and having a forwardly extending shoulder 34 for limiting downward movement of the check strap 6. The outward face of the projection 32 is sub stantially flat and smooth so that the check strap Hi may be moved relatively thereto and in contact therewith without excessive wear on the strap. The member lB'is also provided with an outwardly extending rigid arm 36 which terminates short of the outer end of the metal lay end M. The outer endportion of. the arm, 36 is provided with a hole in which the upper end of a substantially vertical pivot pin 38 is secured.

The pin 38 forms a pivot for the tensioning means which comprises a plate 40 having an inner end portion 42 which is substantially flat and which is located opposite to the downward projection 32. The outer end portion of the The bracket 44 is provided with an outwardly" extending arm 52 which extends slightly outwardly of the outer end of the metal lay end l4 and is provided with a tapered hole it, the pur-' pose of which will later become apparent. The bracket 44 is also provided with an outwardly extending arm 56, the outer end-portion of which is provided with a forwardly extending lug or line projection 58 located rearwardly of and in with the tapered hole 54.

The tension member or plate 48 above described, and a similar member at the opposite side of the path of the picker stick, are normally urged toward each other and their associated depending projections or friction members 32 by a compression spring 683 having one end surrounding the lug 58 and seated against the adjacent surface of the rear bracket arm 56. The other or forward end of the compression spring 66 is seated against a shoulder 62 formed on a threaded bushing E iWhich receives a screw 55 having a tapered head 68 which fits into the tapered hole 54 in the. front bracket arm 52. The forward end of the tapered head 68 isprovided with a screw driver slot '59. Thus when it is desired to adjust the tension of the plates 49 against the check strap, the screw 66 is turned to increase or decrease the tension-of the spring 69. Since the head 68 of the screw-B6 is tapered, the pressure of the spring thereon will permit the tapered head to be firmly seated in the tapered hole 54 and will prevent turning of the screw. a Since only one spring is used and since only one adjustment is necessary to vary the tension produced on the plates 46, it is apparent that the friction produced between the plates 49 and the depending projections 32 on the check strap I6 is equalized, Thus, the'front and rear runs ofthe check strap I 6 are equally free to move when'engaged by the picker stick l2. Thus, the picker stick is checked by the check strap IS without subjecting the picker stick to any torsional strains. Having thus described ,my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

-l.- A- picker check for looms having in combination a picker and a picker stick, a strap embracing the picker stick and arranged to be bodily moved'by engagement with the picker stick when the latterapproaches either endof its stroke, members arranged for engagement with the front and back runs of the strap, means for pressing the strap into engagement with each of said members, and a single memberfor varying the pressure of said pressing means.

2. A picker check for looms having in combination a picker and a picker stick, a strap embracing the-picker stickandarranged to be bodily moved by. engagement with the picker stick when the latter approache either end of its stroke, supporting members arranged to engage the strap at each side of the path of. movement of the pickerstick, pivoted members arrangedto press stationary means arranged to engage the strap at each side of the path of movement of the picker stick, plates pivoted to each of said stationary means and arranged to press the strap against each of the stationary means, a spring tension device connecting said plates, and a member for adjusting the tension of said spring tension cleivice to. apply equal pressure to each of said pivoted plates.

- i. A picker check for looms having in combination a picker and a picker stick, a strap embracing the picker stick and managedto be moved bodily by engagement with the icker stick when the latter approaches either end of its stroke, supporting members arranged to engage the strap at each side of the path of movement of the picker stick, plates pivoted to each of said members and arranged to press the strap against each of the members, said plates each having an outwardly extendin portion, a compression spring interposed between said portions, and a member for varying the tension of said spring whereby equal. pressure is applied to the strap at both sides of the path of movement of the picker stick. 5. A picker check for looms having in combination a picker and picker stick, a check strap embracing the picker stick. and arrangedto be moved bodily by engagement with the picker stick when the latter approaches either end of its stroke, supportnig. members for said check strap at each side of the path ,of movement of said picker stick, pivotedplates each having a surface arranged to press said check strap against-said members, means for pivoting each-of said plates to each or Saidrnembers, resilient means connect-, ing saidplates and urging .saidplates against said check strap, and means forvaryingthe pressure of said platesagainst said strap. 6. A picker check for looms having in combination apicker andpicker stick, a check strap embracing the pickerstick and aranged to be moved bodily by engagement with the picker-stick when-the latter approaches either end of its stroke, supporting members for. said check strap at each side of the path of movement -of said picker stick, saidmembers each havingabearing surface engaged by said strap, plates pivoted to each of said members and each having a bearing surface engaging the check strap and pressing the latter against the bearing surface of theassociated supporting member, an extension on each of said plates, springmeans interposed -be-,

tween said extensions and pressingsaid plates against said strap, and means for adjusting the sure to said strap through said-plates.

'7. A picker check for looms having in combinatension of said spring means to apply equalpres-'- tion a picker and picker stick, a check strap embracing the picker stick and arrangedto be moved bodily by engagement with the picker stick when the latter approaches either .end of its stroke,

supporting members for said check strap at each side of the path of movement of;said picker stick,

1 said members each having abearing surface en.-'.

gaged by said strap, plates pivoted to each of said members and each having a bearing surface for pressing the check strap against the bearing surf-ace of the associated member, an extension on each of said plates projecting outwardly beyond the path of movement of the picker stick, a compression spring located between said extensions for applying equal pressure to each of said plates, and an adjusting member located between one of said extensions and one end of said spring for varying the tension of said spring.

8. In a loom, a lay, a picker and a picker stick, a strap embracing the picker stick and arranged to be moved bodily by engagement with the picker stick when the latter approaches either end of its stroke, supporting members fixed to the lay at each side of the path of movement of the picker stick, and presser members pivoted to each of said supporting members and pressing said strap against each of said supporting members, and means connecting said presser members for applying equal pressure thereto to insure equal movements of each run of said strap when engaged and moved by said picker stick.

9. In a loom, a lay, a picker and a picker stick, a strap embracing the picker stick and arranged to be moved bodily by engagement with the picker stick when the latter approaches either end of its stroke, supporting members fixed to the lay at each side of the path of movement of the picker stick, said members each having a bearing surface engaged by said strap, plates pivoted to each of said members and each having a bearing surface for pressing the strap against the bearing surface of the associated member, an extension on each of said plates projecting toward the outer end of the lay and beyond the path of movement of the picker stick, a compression spring interposed between said extensions and having one end thereof engaging one of said extensions, and means on the other of said extensions and engaging the other end of said spring for adjusting to tension of said spring to apply equal pressure to each of said plates whereby each run of said strap will move equally when engaged by and moved by said picker stick.

CARL D. BROWN. 

